Electronic Ink Set to Make Dynamic Impact on Product Authentication

Traditional anti-counterfeiting printing techniques use enhanced specifications such as high resolution and small dimensions to provide security within static printed images for product authentication labelling and packaging. To enhance protection still further, dynamic print technologies are being developed. One such promising technology has recently been reported in the journal ‘Light: Science & Applications’ ¹ by a research group in Guangzhou, China.

Its work is based on electrophoretic displays (EPDs), commonly referred to as ePaper or electronic ink, which can be found on eReader devices such as the Kindle. They consume little power, are capable of showing images that can change dynamically, and have a high contrast ratio, meaning they can be easily read, even in bright light.

How it works

Conventional EPDs display images by controlling the movement of charged black and white particles under an electric field. This movement allows for the switching between black and white states, making them ideal for static applications. However, these displays typically rely on visible light, limiting their effectiveness in darker settings or when additional security features are needed. To extend the functionality of EPDs, fluorescent electrophoretic displays have been developed.